The Cairo International Jazz Festival announced it will dedicate its 17th edition this year to the late Lebanese musician and composer, Ziad Rahbani.
This tribute comes in recognition of his contributions to developing Arab music and his innovative integration of jazz with Oriental melodies, establishing him as one of the most prominent creative figures in the Arab world.
Nine days of global and Arab jazz
The new edition of the festival will run from October 30 to November 7 at several cultural centers across Egypt, including the American University in Cairo (AUC) at Tahrir Square, El Sawy Culture Wheel, Arkan Theater, and Rawabet Art Space.
Special performances will also be held at the Library of Alexandria and the Jesuit Cultural Center in Alexandria.
The festival will feature artists from over 12 countries presenting musical performances, workshops, and various cultural and artistic activities.
The festival will conclude with a special concert titled “A Tribute to Ziad Rahbani,” bringing together artists influenced by his work, including Hazem Shaheen, Hany Adel, Rana Haggag, Nouran AbuTaleb, and Aliaa Nada.
They will be accompanied by the Egyptian Recording Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Wagdy al-Faioumi and directed by Basel Hisham.
During the event, a selection of Rahbani’s most celebrated compositions will be reinterpreted through a blending of the spirit of jazz with the distinctive Arab musical soul of the late great artist.
International and regional lineup
The 17th edition program boasts over 100 artists from more than 12 countries, offering diverse musical performances that fuse global jazz with Oriental spirit.
Key international participants include Joseph Tawadros (Australia/Egypt) alongside the Egyptian Recording Orchestra led by Wagdy al-Faioumi, Wust al-Balad band, Marco Mezquida (Spain), Jameela and The Other Heroes (Palestine/Egypt/Germany), Andreas Scharer (Switzerland), Sanem Kalfa (Netherlands), and Søren Baun (Denmark).
Germany is contributing three distinctive performances by the groups Timo Vollbrecht, Laura Kipp, and Jameela and The Other Heroes.
Egypt is also featuring prominently with new acts by Timo Michael, Ziad Hisham, Aswad w Abyad (Black and White), Rana Haggag, the al-Dor al-Awal Band, Tarek Raouf, and The Gypsy Jazz Project, all showcasing their new albums during the festival.
This edition will also feature the debut participation of Syrian artist Mohamed Ragab, along with a special concert by Moroccan singer Sara Moul al-Bilad, who will present her new work in Cairo for the first time.
Promoting cultural exchange
The festival is supported by the European Union in collaboration with “EUNIC,” and sponsored by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, embassies from Australia, Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Slovakia, and several international cultural institutes.
With this edition, the Cairo International Jazz Festival continues to solidify its position as one of the most important musical events in the Middle East, successfully combining the celebration of Arab musical heritage with an openness to contemporary global experiences.
